I'm having playback problems with my VCD's

[AlkalineTrio]

Ok, so this is exactly what happened from the time i got the VCD's to the time i posted this, maybe someone can help (and i'm really new at this):
I got 4 VCD's from the exact same source, so I assumed that if one worked they all should work. When I put them in my DVD player on my computer, none of them would play back in WinDVD except for one. They all gave me an error message saying, "file number 1 invalid format." The Disc that worked would freeze up occasionaly and WinDVD would crash. I decided to take the VCD's, which all used MPEG2 format, and convert them to MPG using IsoBuster, which seemed to work OK. The first disc i converted in Isobuster got to 99% complete, and then gave me an error message about some sectors not working or something, so i checked ignore all and clicked continue, which caused IsoBuster to crash. However, after I pressed Control-Alt-Delete, the file was where i extracted it to and i could play it just fine in windows media player. I tried this with the remaining three VCD's, and the same thing happened in IsoBuster, when it would crash while having just a few percent left to extract. After Control-Alt-Deleting out of these, the files were extracted as if i had finished the process, just as before. However, when i played these back, the video was entirely corrupted, it was blocky and there were strange color spots, while the audio was scratchy and distorted. I found it odd that this would happen since all the MPEG2's came from the same place, and was wondering if there was anyway to fix the terrible playback from these ".mpg's".

Thanks for any help you can give me.

[Tommyknocker]

I would say go to the Convert section and read on how to convert VCD to another format.

[Bilal]

download this codec from this website which i found in tools on the left side:
http://www.elecard.com/download/index.shtml
after installing it you can try playing them using media player
good luck

[mats.hogberg]

For starters, VCD is MPEG1, not MPEG2.
IsoBuster can't convert anything, it just lets you access files in a ISO file system.
To me, it seems like the VCDs(?) are corrupt, either by accident, or deliberately made in an attempt at copy protection.
If these are bought, I'd return them.
If given to you, ask for a new set.

/Mats

[AlkalineTrio]

Thanks for the responses. I already tried the Elecard Codec, however, and it didnt fix the problem.

[AlkalineTrio]

I would say go to the Convert section and read on how to convert VCD to another format.

I should have asked in my last post, Tommyknocker, what other formats do you suggest? I was looking for a way to convert MPEG2 to other formats, but it looks like all the freeware provided is for converting movies to VCD's. If you have any software suggestions, please give them to me. I could aslo try to convert those messed-up playback .mpg's to another format, but I'm not sure if that would help.
thanks

[Tommyknocker]

If you try TMPGEnc, you can convert to AVI (when using a high definition template, like DVD templates. You can also Find the source of these videos and figure why they were so dreadful to begin with. The problem is, converting them to a different format will not make them any better, most likely it will make them worse.

[dcsos]

Two suggestions
GO INTO THE MPEG AV FOLDER on the DISC
This is the video content
Highlight all files in this directory and copy them to HARD DRIVE

then open CD Burning Program..

Go to VIDEO CD..drag the files from hard drive to the burning vcd program and organize the-- .DAT or .aveseq.dat -all the files --in the chapter order they originally had..

If this doean't work

Open nero or ISO burning program.....
choose virtual recorder..show program the vcd and make an image of it on the hard drive..
RE OPEN NERO or such, high light the iso on the harddrive (for nero ita a >NRG image file) and burn to a new platter

LET US KNOW WHAT WORKED

[AlkalineTrio]

dcsos, i tried your first suggestion, and i tried to copy the file in my MPEG2 folder, entitled AVSEQ01.MPG, and paste onto a folder in my hard drive. This gave me a message reading:
"Cannot copy AVSEQ01.MPG : Invalid MSDOS Function."

I don't have Nero and am not sure where to get it. I am also pretty sure that I would not exactly know what to do with it, so if you could clarify your instructions a bit it would really help. Thanks a lot for replying.

[dcsos]

That is the COPYRIGHT part of the VCD kicking in..
when it gives you that message, there's copyguard built into even a home made VCD as this copy guard is applied by the burn program by default if you ask to burn a VCD!
2 ways around this..
Usually making an image of the whole disc should get around this..
Get a hold of NERO..the trial one will work for a few days at least..with full capbility
http://www.ahead.de/en/index.html#root

if you can't get this get
VCD EASY..www.vcdeasy.org
I don't think this freeware (shareware recently) program will make an image , but it will extract a mpg from the aveseq.mpg ..

Tell me which you got and I'll try to describe it blow by blow

[AlkalineTrio]

Ok, I went to the link you gave me, dcsos, and i wasnt exactly sure which Nero I should download, so I ended up download Nero - Burning Rom. Upon opening this program, I still have no clue what to do with it. Thanks.

[AlkalineTrio]

Ok I also just tried VCDEasy. The MPEG2 I'm trying to play is about 800 MB, and apparently the shareware demo doesnt allow you to use anything over 400 MB.

By the way, I have a few questions about some of the software I'm blindly using:
What exactly does IsoBuster do when I take the file AVSEQ01.MPG from the MPEG2 folder on my SVCD and click "Extract but filter only M2F2 Mpeg Frames"? I'm asking because I'm wondering if their might be a better software that might be able to "salvage" the errored sectors on my SVCD. Let me emphasize that I have no idea if that even makes sense, but I'm thinking that if IsoBuster gives me these errors and my MPEG2's come out bad after going through the program, maybe there's a better program that can get me better results and better playback. Any suggestions?

[dcsos]

Open nero, release the wizard..that is- hit cancel..now...
Choose new,
go down the left hand , choose VCD

now ignore the main window for a sec..
go along the top to recorder, go down to choose recorder
DO NOT CHOOSE your CD burner..choose image recorder..
virtual device

NOW go back to the main window...
drag the AVESEQ.mpg from an EXPLORER VIEW of the file into the main window in the middle of nero....
when you hit the red button to burn now you will be making a NERO IMAGE (.nrg) to your harrdrive

if this works and you kan't figgure out how to
burn the image..... if it works good to copy to your harrdrive repost and i'll continue

[AlkalineTrio]

I'm having trouble identifying the window I drag AVSEQ01.mpg into. I'm already at the stage where I've set the Virtual Device part. Also, I am wondering if it is normal to have a file named Track 1, displayed as a WinAmp file, and under "Mode" reading Data Track. Any more help you can give would be greatly appreciated.

[dcsos]

good for you your almost there

Also, I am wondering if it is normal to have a file named Track 1, displayed as a WinAmp file, and under "Mode" reading Data Track. Any more help you can give would be greatly appreciated.

yes thats normal
now drag the aveseq.mpg into that same window with the
track one and it'll become track two and hit record to the hard drive...
it'll ask where..and post again if you cant figgure out out to burn an image to a cd surface..
ALL THIS TO BYPASS BUILT IN COPYGUARD of the VCD MEDIUM

[AlkalineTrio]

It seems that AVSEQ01.MPG can not be dragged into the window containing track one. I've tried it several times, but it doesnt work. I also did not see a Record button anywhere on the screen. Do I have the wrong version or something?

[dcsos]

Uh-Oh.
It sould show a pop up analyzing the AVESEQ file
the moment you get it in this window properly..
This is the lower left window of the 4 paned LEFTE SID of the "NEW " WINDOW
if it doesn't go,
maybe others were right it's not a good VCD or its out of spec
(SPEC: 352x240 or 352x288 and 44khz sound/1150KBPS)

Altough MY VCD's give me errors like you got when you simply tried to copy with explorer
("Cannot copy AVSEQ01.MPG : Invalid MSDOS Function.")
I can always put these files into nero's VCD window and make an image

[AlkalineTrio]

i tried again as per your instructions, dcsos, but nothing seems to be working. Do you think i have any other options?

[fmctm1sw]

dcsos, i tried your first suggestion, and i tried to copy the file in my MPEG2 folder, entitled AVSEQ01.MPG, and paste onto a folder in my hard drive. This gave me a message reading:
"Cannot copy AVSEQ01.MPG : Invalid MSDOS Function."

I don't have Nero and am not sure where to get it. I am also pretty sure that I would not exactly know what to do with it, so if you could clarify your instructions a bit it would really help. Thanks a lot for replying.

I ran into this same issue. I seem to have gotten the nrg files to my C: drive but what do I do now? I tried simply renaming it to mpg but it named it *.mpg.nrg.....